My name is Fred and I am a gay conservative living in Ottawa. This blog supports limited government, the right of the State of Israel to live in peace and security, and tries to expose the threat to us all from cultural relativism, post-modernism, and radical Islam.
I am also the founder of the Free Thinking Film Society in Ottawa (www.freethinkingfilms.com)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

George Galloway in Cleveland...

Look at the map of Israel behind him - it appears that all of Israel is to be Palestine, no???

After WWI the ME was divided up and many new countries were formed without much trouble, until it came to the Jews. (I doubt that Balfour did anything that was not practicable but he reckoned without the xenophobia of the Arab League. Isn't it odd that there's a Canadian Arab Federation in here for Arabs living in occupied Canada?)

In apologizing for Balfour, Galloway is regretting the establishment of Israel and I have to conclude that when he says Jerusalem is occupied, he means ALL of it. Your definition invoking East Jerusalem derives from supposed international law; in rejecting Balfour and the subsequent League of Nations acceptance as well as the later UN Resolution 181, Galloway signals contempt for international law. I have also seen clips of him encouraging more terrorism against Israelis and exhorting the Arabs to unite; I don't recall the word "caliphate" but most would infer it.

Galloway is certainly not an antisemite in the way we usually think of it but to deny Christians and especially Jews, a right to Jerusalem in favour of the relative upstart religion of Islam, is highly provocative.

Peter, if you want to be thechnical, they where there for less than a thousand years, then the romans, christian, arabs, right? before the jews where cananites or something like that? They killed them off to take the land, so it was never theirs to begin with.unless you want to believe God gave them the land and told moses and joshua to kill every one on it,, men women and children? Now I dont care who lives on this land, it is to far for me to care, but they do want to keep the west bank, to call it sumaria and judea.. thats the point. Why is it if someone has a diferent point of view, he or she is a leftist anti semite rice crispy?

peter:being anti Zionist doesn't mean anti semite. I'm not sure why you want to get nasty and I don't how you determine my place on the political spectrum. (jumping to conclusions, I suppose). I harbour "hatred"? I don't know where that comes from. You don't know me.Forget the ethnic or religious factors. Look at the issues simply through the filters of justice and human rights. That's how I see it anyway.Yes, Jews did live on the land, side-by-side with the Arabs, in peace, I might add. Then came Zionism.

As far as Balfour is concerned please remember included in his letter of declaration is:

"it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

I'm not sure how anyone can suggest this has been followed.

Lastly, I don't want to argue with anyone. I agree with a hand made sign in a small Mulsim run restaurant in my city that reads "Love for All, Hate for None."

Forget the ethnic or religious factors.Well I already showed that for the Arab League it is about just these. If they would forget it there should be no problem.

As far as Balfour is concerned …. nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." I'm not sure how anyone can suggest this has been followed.Well the Arab League starting the 1948 War certainly did not follow it. Anyway, Galloway seems to want to rescind Balfour and as he is to be your hero, you have no business using this argument. (I’m assuming you’re the Viva Palestina donor who challenged our government. Do they allow computers in prison or did you not make it there?)

The law is clear and without ambiguity.It would be heartening to believe that but I've been witness to legal experts disagreeing on it. Still, let's say you're right. What needs to be explained is the one-sided application of the law. Israel is always accused of disobeying it but nothing is said about the Arab League's total disregard for it. Examples:

181: WAR!!!!!!242: No No No (said before 242 was even complete)The ongoing refusal of Hizbollah to comply with UNSCRs is a current problem.

This is not a matter of 2 wrongs not making a right. Israel cannot make irreversible territorial concessions when the Palestinians et al demonstrate their long term intentions by indoctrinating their youth to hate Jews (among others).--------------------------------------It’s odd for the anti-occupation CAF to have any members living in occupied Canada. It makes them Class A hypocrites. Hiding behind Geneva IV is not moral.--------------------------------------I don't know of any reasonable person that would "deny Christians and especially Jews, a right to Jerusalem" So you’re saying that Galloway is not reasonable. Finally we agree.

It makes me sad you find it necessary to insult me for my point of view.

In one sense I have no stake in the Palestine / Israel conflict. I'm neither Jew nor Arab nor do I have any distant relatives that are. I don't care about Islam, Christianity or Judaism. I'm an atheist. My country is a long way from the Middle East. Why should I care?

I see the killing and injustice, filter it though my education (limited), experience and compassion and try to form an opinion on that basis.

I don't post anonymously. I'm not ashamed of my opinions and proud to speak out. It's my duty as a human being.

My analysis of the situation lays primary blame for the plight of the Palestinians on their leadership, the Arab League and increasingly, the Ummah. I believe sincerely that your approach is making it worse for them.

This article by Barry Rubin explains what I think is wrong today & it has parallels throughout the history. (I'm not claiming this as proof of my position as you might well reject Rubin as a source. I know the truth of the events he speaks of however and over time have found him to be a very credible and academic source of analysis.)

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My name is Fred and I am a gay conservative living in Ottawa. This blog supports limited government, the right of the State of Israel to live in peace and security, and tries to expose the threat to us all from cultural relativism, post-modernism, and radical Islam.
I am also the founder of the Free Thinking Film Society in Ottawa (www.freethinkingfilms.com)